Malappuram remark written by PR agency; The Hindu expresses regret on controversial interview 

NEW DELHI: ‘The Hindu’ responded to the controversy on the publication of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's interview. The press release of the daily said that the controversial part of the chief minister was written by a PR agency. A representative of the PR agency said the Malappuram reference was earlier mentioned by the chief minister in a press meet. The Hindu said they express regret as it is unethical.

Soon after the remarks stoked a controversy, the chief minister's press secretary had sent a letter to the daily. Hindu's response was in reply to this letter. The letter said what the chief minister did not say was twisted and given in the interview. There were wide protests from many quarters soon after the interview came out.

The letter to the editor said that no country or area was mentioned in an anti-national manner in the interview and what said was misinterpreted. The chief minister gave the interview during his visit to Delhi. The interview published in the daily said the police seized 150 kg of gold and hawala money of Rs 123 crore from Malappuram in five years and this money is being used for anti-national activities.